Virtual attendees of Indeed FutureWorks 2022 enjoyed exclusive interviews with some of today’s top celebrities and business leaders, including actor Jason Sudeikis; HBO “Insecure” creator Issa Rae; and Formula 1 champion, Extreme E racer and entrepreneur Nico Rosberg. These candid, prerecorded Q&A sessions shared unique insights on topics such as leadership, team-building, equity and other trends shaping today's talent landscape.
Here are some highlights from three of these must-see interviews:
It’s More Than Motivation, It’s a Management Style: Talking Teamwork with ‘Ted Lasso’ Star Jason Sudeikis
Award-winning actor, producer, writer and comedian Jason Sudeikis chatted with Indeed Chief Marketing Officer Jessica Jensen about career growth, teamwork and the power of saying “good job.”
On what motivates him professionally: For Sudeikis, the secret to success is striving to keep up with his talented peers and setting goals that allow for small wins along the way, which motivate him to keep going. Or, in his words, “the harder you work, the luckier you get.”
As a developing comedian taking improv classes in Kansas City, Sudeikis set his sights on performing at a local comedy club. After hitting that milestone, he earned a spot on improv troupe The Second City in Chicago, which led to his career-launching turn as a writer and cast member on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.” He went on to star in films and most recently earned acclaim as an executive producer, writer and star of the AppleTV+ series “Ted Lasso.”
By setting incremental goals he could achieve, he created a domino effect of opportunities and built a career doing what he loves.
“It’s a little bit following your bliss, finding your niche and where your knack is within that niche,” says Sudeikis, “and then just paying attention to the people who have carved a path slightly ahead of you.”
On management and teamwork: Sudeikis developed his knack for leadership during his improv days, which forced him to actively listen to and connect with others. But working in the high-stress, deadline-driven environment at “Saturday Night Live” drove home the power of “empowering and endowing” team members to deliver results under pressure.
“SNL [is at] 11:30pm on Saturday. So there was this immediate deadline that we all knew, and that’s part of the joy and the pressure and the scariness of it all,” says Sudeikis, recalling the monumental cross-departmental team effort necessary to successfully deliver a live show every week. “But it really got forged by letting department heads do their thing. You just empower them to do that, give them the intention behind the thoughts and let them lean in.”
Register here to attend FutureWorks 2023 either virtually or in-person in Atlanta, Sept. 20-21. The event features a conversation with award-winning actress, producer and New York Times bestselling author Viola Davis and others.
Breaking Biases and Making Your Voice Heard, with Marvel Film Star Simu Liu
On diversity in the workplace: When Liu starred in the hit Canadian television series “Kim’s Convenience,” it featured a diverse cast — but behind the scenes was another story. Representation “was not to the level where you would have expected for a show like ‘Kim’s Convenience,’” Liu says. “We were not invited to contribute notes on story [or] character. We were not given a seat at the proverbial table.”
It’s a microcosm of what happens in workplaces all over the world, he explains, “where people think a certain diversity and inclusion quota has been met, and that’s it — the work has been done, and we don’t have to continue to service these people or this cause. When, in reality, I think you have to continue to create safe spaces for your employees, particularly those that belong to minority groups, to be able to feel safe and heard.”
Workplaces that actually embody diversity and inclusion, Liu adds, provide an environment where employees can engage in safe dialogue with their superiors, candidly sharing thoughts and concerns.
“What really matters, even more than the act itself, is the intention behind it,” says Liu, and “a genuine willingness from our leaders to want to learn and to participate in a conversation where there is an awareness that they might not have all the answers.”
On the value of hard work: The defining moments of Simu Liu’s career were more than luck: they occurred at the intersection of opportunity and preparation.
“It’s true that you can’t always predict when a huge opportunity is going to come,” Liu says. “That can be very much outside your control. But it doesn’t relieve you of the responsibility of working hard every day to create those opportunities for yourself.”
A Great Place to Work for All: How Happiness at Work Is Better for Employees, Better for Business and Better for the World, with CEO Michael C. Bush
On shifting workplace and hiring expectations: The shift to remote work during the pandemic forced both employees and employers to reconsider what it means to be a “good place to work.” Not only did employees gain a new perspective about their employers, says Bush, but many employers found a new level of trust in their now-remote employees.
“That great awakening that occurred — which, I believe, is going to fuel a transformation in terms of the way people are treated at work and also increase the level of commitment that employees are willing to make to employers — has affected recruitment,” Bush says. Many workers today, he adds, want to be matched with employers that align with their purpose and embody their values.
“People are looking for more,” Bush says. “They're trying to … find the right place. And employers, through their messaging, need to communicate what their place is and why they believe diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging make a difference.”
On the future of work: According to Bush, the future of work is inclusive. Organizations that limit their talent pool will fall behind the competition.
“As I think about the long term, organizations have to have the best people on earth. And if you're [only] getting them from a few demographic groups, it's not possible,” he says, noting that employers who target the rich source of untapped talent in traditionally overlooked groups will gain the competitive edge. “This is the great opportunity. ... Organizations that do this and do it well, and are willing to commit — they're going to win.”
